David Janssen
David Janssen was born David Harold Meyer in 1931 in Naponee, Nebraska, to Berniece Mae (Graf) and Harold Edward Meyer, a banker. He was of German, and some Swiss-German and Ulster-Scots, descent. David took the surname of his stepfather, Eugene Janssen. The Janssen family settled in Hollywood when he was a teenager and he attended Fairfax High School, where he developed an interest in acting. His film debut was a bit part in It's a Pleasure (1945), and at the age of 18 signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox. However, the studio dropped him after allegedly becoming disenchanted with his odd hairline and big prominent ears. Janssen had better luck at Universal, where he signed on in the early 1950s and became a supporting player in 32 films before appearing on TV as the star of Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1956). He resumed his movie career in 1961, a year after the series ended. His biggest success came from his lead in the series The Fugitive (1963), playing the haunted, hunted Dr. Richard Kimble, on the run for a murder he didn't commit. After the series ended, Janssen launched himself into a grueling schedule by appearing in lead and supporting roles in movies, but he had better luck with made-for-TV-movie roles and a short-lived series, O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971). He had another hit series with the cult favorite Harry O (1973). Janssen continued appearing in lead roles in nearly 20 made-for-TV-movies during the 1970s as well as other TV projects. He died in 1980 from a sudden heart attack at his Malibu home at the age of 48. Unfounded speculation holds that Janssen succumbed to alcoholism, a problem that plagued him most of his adult life. There were even unfounded rumors about drug use. However, a much more reasonable explanation for David Janssen's sudden demise is that this intense, dedicated, determined actor simply worked himself to death.
From an IMDB Mini-Bio for David Janssen
Acted in
Los Angeles Plays Itself
2004
as Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)
Inchon
1981
as David Feld
City in Fear
1980
as Vince Perrino
S.O.S. Titanic
1980
as John Jacob Astor
High Ice
1980
as Glencoe MacDonald
The Golden Gate Murders
1979
as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
The Word
1978
as Steve Randall
Centennial
1978
as Narrator
Covert Action
1978
as Lester Horton
Nowhere to Run
1978
as Harry Adams
Superdome
1978
as Mike Shelley
Golden Rendezvous
1977
as Charles Conway
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977
as Michael Delaney
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
1977
as Capt. Pete Douglass
Warhead
1977
as Tony Stevens
Two-Minute Warning
1976
as Steve
Stalk the Wild Child
1976
as Dr. James Hazard
Joys
1976
as Self
The Swiss Conspiracy
1976
as David Christopher
Once Is Not Enough
1975
as Tom Colt
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Fer-de-Lance
1974
as Russ Bogan
Harry O
1974
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
1974
as Harry Orwell
Pioneer Woman
1973
as Robert Douglas
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973
as Harry Orwell
Hijack!
1973
as Jake Wilkenson
Police Story
1973
Birds of Prey
1973
as Harry Walker
Moon of the Wolf
1972
as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
The Longest Night
1972
as Alan Chambers
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
1971
Cannon
1971
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
1971
as James O'Hara
Macho Callahan
1971
as Diego Callahan
Night Chase
1970
as Adrian Vico
Generation
1969
as Jim Bolton
Marooned
1969
as Ted Dougherty
Where It's At
1969
as A.C. Smith
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968
as George Faber
The Green Berets
1968
as George Beckworth
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1967
as Self
Warning Shot
1967
as Sgt. Tom Valens
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Host
The Fugitive
1963
as Richard Kimble
My Six Loves
1963
as Marty Bliss
The Eleventh Hour
1962
as Hal Kincaid
Belle Sommers
1962
as Danny Castle
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962
as Self
Target: The Corruptors!
1961
Man-Trap
1961
as Vince Biskay
Cain's Hundred
1961
as Dan Mullin
Twenty Plus Two
1961
as Tom Alder
Ring of Fire
1961
as Sergeant Steve Walsh
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961
as Arnold Rothstein
Dondi
1961
as Dealey
Route 66
1960
as Karno Starling
Checkmate
1960
as Len Kobalsky
Hell to Eternity
1960
as Sgt, Bill Hazen
Adventures in Paradise
1959
as Scotty Bell
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
as Ross Ingraham
Naked City
1958
as Blair Cameron
Naked City
1958
as Carl Ashland
Lafayette Escadrille
1958
as Duke Sinclair
Alcoa Theatre
1957
as Mike Harper
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
as Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
The Girl He Left Behind
1956
as Capt. Genaro
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Seth Larker
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Dix Porter
Showdown at Abilene
1956
as Verne Ward
U.S. Marshall
1956
as Arnie Hix
Away All Boats
1956
as uncredited
Francis in the Haunted House
1956
as Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Toy Tiger
1956
as Larry Tripps
Never Say Goodbye
1956
as Dave Heller
The Square Jungle
1955
as Jack Lindsay
All That Heaven Allows
1955
as Freddie Norton (uncredited)
Matinee Theater
1955
To Hell and Back
1955
as Lt Lee
Francis in the Navy
1955
as Lieutenant Anders
The Private War of Major Benson
1955
as Young Lieutenant
Chief Crazy Horse
1955
as Lt. Colin Cartwright
Cult of the Cobra
1955
as Rico Nardi
The Millionaire
1955
as Peter Miller
The Millionaire
1955
as David Barrett
General Electric Theater
1953
as Pat Howard
Yankee Buccaneer
1952
as Beckett
Francis Goes to West Point
1952
as Cpl. Thomas (as Dave Janssen)
No Room for the Groom
1952
as Soldier (scenes deleted)
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Ralph / Joe Davies
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Johnny Reynolds, Jr.